I won't be able to get non-custodial parent to fill out NeedAccess.Is this form required to be considered for any financial aid at schools that ask for it?Would I be considered for merit aid without it?

I had this same problem. I filled out NeedAccess with the information I had, and there was somewhere for a brief addendum or explanation. I put in three sentences or so just explaining that I haven't seen this parent in 15 years, my family doesn't know where he lives, and he's six figures in child support arrears. (I'm sure you had to do the same thing for undergrad Profile form if you ever had to fill that out ... ).

cinephile wrote:NeedAccess is only for need based aid, so you should still be considered for merit aid.

Some schools (well, at least Northwestern) won't consider you for any aid at all, including merit, without all the financial aid app pieces, including NeedAccess, complete. (OTOH, NU doesn't ask for parental info.)

Do schools ask you to provide documentation at all? I am filling out the Need Access and they ask about your Medical/Dental Expenses. I use Mint.com to track pretty much all my expenditures, so I pulled my figure from that + insurance premiums total on my 12/31/12 pay stub. I'm pretty confident my number is a good estimate but I probably don't have receipts for a fair number of the items included in my estimate. I would have receipts/documentation for anything big -- premiums, prescription drugs, one dental procedure. But it's not even worth including the couple hundred dollars spent on other smaller medical/dental expenses if a school might ask me to cough up receipts or worse, penalize me if I am unable to produce receipts for everything.

risa wrote:Do schools ask you to provide documentation at all? I am filling out the Need Access and they ask about your Medical/Dental Expenses. I use Mint.com to track pretty much all my expenditures, so I pulled my figure from that + insurance premiums total on my 12/31/12 pay stub. I'm pretty confident my number is a good estimate but I probably don't have receipts for a fair number of the items included in my estimate. I would have receipts/documentation for anything big -- premiums, prescription drugs, one dental procedure. But it's not even worth including the couple hundred dollars spent on other smaller medical/dental expenses if a school might ask me to cough up receipts or worse, penalize me if I am unable to produce receipts for everything.

Thoughts?

You should be fine. You have enough documentation to show that you are not committing fraud by randomly making up numbers. It is not as bad as an IRS audit. As long as you don't lie/can show all your statements were made in good faith, you won't be "penalized". I would save what you have now in terms of paperwork "just in case," but don't stress about it. As long as you don't show up in a bentley and dripping with diamonds, no one is going to interrogate you.

dudders wrote:I had this same problem. I filled out NeedAccess with the information I had, and there was somewhere for a brief addendum or explanation. I put in three sentences or so just explaining that I haven't seen this parent in 15 years, my family doesn't know where he lives, and he's six figures in child support arrears. (I'm sure you had to do the same thing for undergrad Profile form if you ever had to fill that out ... ).

Just to follow up on this, does anyone have any knowledge of submitting NeedAccess as being detrimental to chances for merit aid? I'm planning on submitting it along with FAFSA even though I think I'm extremely unlikely to receive any need aid, just want to make sure that it doesn't hurt my chances at merit aid.

Scrambles84 wrote:Just to follow up on this, does anyone have any knowledge of submitting NeedAccess as being detrimental to chances for merit aid? I'm planning on submitting it along with FAFSA even though I think I'm extremely unlikely to receive any need aid, just want to make sure that it doesn't hurt my chances at merit aid.

Doubt it.

Plus some schools won't give you anything (loans or grants, merit or need) if you don't submit it.

Br3v wrote:Do I understand it correctly that I have to pay to submit this on top of my FAFSA. Especially considering my school requires it if I want to be considered for aid.

Yep.

Honestly even the site itself seemed a little suspect. I don't feel to comfortable submitting all my info into it but it is what it is I suppose.

It's fine. Good schools require it, and no one's heard of anything sketchy.Look at it this way: it gives the schools a much better picture of your finances. For one thing, it takes into account that a person who quits their job in July to start law school won't be making an entire year's salary that year. FAFSA assumes you made the same amount as the year before.

dudders wrote:I had this same problem. I filled out NeedAccess with the information I had, and there was somewhere for a brief addendum or explanation. I put in three sentences or so just explaining that I haven't seen this parent in 15 years, my family doesn't know where he lives, and he's six figures in child support arrears. (I'm sure you had to do the same thing for undergrad Profile form if you ever had to fill that out ... ).

Still got need-based aid at several schools. Don't stress about it.

Thank you for this. I've been really stressed out because I honestly have no idea where my father is or how to contact him and was stressed this would screw me over. TYTYTY.

dudders wrote:I had this same problem. I filled out NeedAccess with the information I had, and there was somewhere for a brief addendum or explanation. I put in three sentences or so just explaining that I haven't seen this parent in 15 years, my family doesn't know where he lives, and he's six figures in child support arrears. (I'm sure you had to do the same thing for undergrad Profile form if you ever had to fill that out ... ).

Still got need-based aid at several schools. Don't stress about it.

Thank you for this. I've been really stressed out because I honestly have no idea where my father is or how to contact him and was stressed this would screw me over. TYTYTY.

Also, once you are accepted you can deal directly with the financial aid department at your school. It is easier to deal with a specific person. Sadly, you are not alone in your situation; there are many students who don't have contact with one or both parents. Someone will know how to help you.